Casey's Senior Photos | Hatcher's Pass

It was gray and gloomy in the Valley, but once we got to the top of Hatcher's Pass it was GORGEOUS! A Wednesday afternoon is the perfect time to go up there if you don't want to have company. I laid in the road for about 20 minutes to get some of these shots (because, really if I haven't laid on the ground at some point during a shoot, it isn't over). I didn't have to move for a single car. Casey was awesome and so relaxed in front of the camera. I think he thought I was crazy when I told him to ride as close as he could to me as I laid in the middle of the road. But we had a great time and I love the shots we got on the beautiful spring day.

Here are a few favorites. Click here for the complete slideshow.

The Disney's

This weekend I had the honor and fun of photographing the Disneys. I really don't have that many clients who finish their photo session standing still for great snowball-in-the-face shots. They are some of my all-time favorite people. What can I say? They really are amazing and if you know them, you know what I mean...crazy skits, amazing salsa, Forest Gump, Napoleon Dynamite, wisdom, laughter, kindness and many sweet memories. The sad part of this story is that they are moving out of Alaska in a few short weeks. We will miss you!

Here are some favorite shots. Click here for the entire slideshow.

Don and Nancy's Engagement Session

The wind was blowing down the valley that day but the trees provided us with some protection and a pretty great background. I had a great time with Don and Nancy at Eagle River Nature Center. What an awesome couple they are. I am so excited about photographing their wedding in the picturesque town of Seward this summer.

Thanks for braving the weather with me!
Here are a few favorites. Click here for the entire slideshow.

Spring Cleaning

One of the tasks I have given myself this spring is to once again sort through all of my worldly goods and purge. This gets harder and harder each time I do it because I don't have much to begin with. Well, my mom might disagree with that as most of it has been stored in her basement for the last few years. But really, how do you distill a lifetime worth of stuff into just the most important things.

I am a book lover. And as I went through the boxes of books that I had to save nearly four years ago when I packed them, it was a little walk down memory lane. I couldn't help but associate books with different times of my life. I did get rid of a few more that I just don't see my self ever reading again. As I flipped through the pages to take out any bookmarks before they went into the 'get rid of' pile, I found little treasures. Treasures like airplane boarding passes that reaminded me of adventures, notes, receipts, a copy of my grandpa's funeral program.

Then I came to what I like to call my "Love Me" boxes. These are small photo boxes. I have 4 of them. Inside is a collection of cards, letters, notes, old photos and emails.... all from friends and family that showed me love. I tried to go through them last night while watching a movie. Some of them made me laugh out loud. Some of them made me want to cry. But mostly they did what they were meant to do, make me feel loved. My life is rich... with a wealth of friends and family and memories and adventures. How can you discard these things? So in the end I mostly threw away the envelopes of the cards. So after going through 2 boxes I haven't made much of a dent in the purge... but I do feel loved. And have some fantastic photos of friends that might not want them ever to find the light of day again. But you never know... they might just end up on facebook. In love, of course.

I had to include a photo. Here is one of my favorites of my big brother and I at my great grandma's house. Aren't we cute?!

Jamie's Maternity Session

A few weeks before Aida's grand entrance into our world, I took Jamie and Shawn out for a few maternity photos. They are new to the state and wanted something that had Alaska in it. Pioneer Peak is about as good as it gets here in the Mat-Su Valley. then a few days later we took some shots inside where we could have that beautiful belly out. Thanks for letting be a part of this time in your lives!

Here are a few favorites. Click here for the entire slideshow.

Miss Adah

After a long anticipated arrival, she finally came. And she was worth the wait! Sweet Adah was only a few days old when we had her first photo session. She is so beautiful! Momma, Daddy and big brother are quite smitten.

I am posting Adah's photos before her mom's maternity shots because I am sure that the family far away can't wait to see her. I will post Jamie's Maternity Session later.

Just in case you wanted to know...the adorable hat she is wearing was made by my good friend, Amanda. Check out her blog about it here... and follow their family story of adoption. And the precious knit diaper cover was made by my friend Katie. You can check out her knitting blog for other fun baby and children items.
Here are a few favorites. Click here for the entire slideshow.

Emily's Senior Session

It was one of those bright, spring afternoons when the snow sparkles and you have to squint more because of the reflection off the snow than the sun. Beautiful in every Alaskan way...

Emily and I met down by Matanuska River to take her senior portraits. Thanks for the honor of photographing you, Emily!

Here are some favorites. Click here for the entire slideshow.

Wedding Albums

Take a look at these! My first wedding albums from KISS Wedding Books arrived last week. I LOVE them!

Cousins

A beautiful, sunny, spring day and four bright, cheerful faces... it doesn't get much better than that. These cousins were all together for the first time and we captured this moment in time for them. I have known most of the parents since they were all in high school. Kayaked and rafted with one of the grandma's and loved all of their extended family for a long time. So it was fun to get to know the next generation.

Here are some favorites. Click here for the slideshow.

The Final Touches

June in Alaska. They had a great location and nearly perfect weather. And I had the honor of photographing it all. March in Alaska. A new house built for his bride. White walls in need of art. And I had the honor of helping Mayerly and Luke hang their photos from their beautiful wedding. It was so much fun to hang out with them again and see their walls transformed by art. I think their newly decorated walls look amazing!

Spring is Coming.

Spring is coming. How can I tell?

The sun is setting well past 6pm now.
The Iditarod starts tomorrow.
I feel the travel bug itching my feet daily, (too bad it is a frugal insect).
The snow is looking dingy from melting.
The words 'Spring Break' are said gleefully by young and old.
All things pastel and 'Easter' are seen in the stores.
Target thinks that we should all be buying sun dresses and tank tops(however, highs in the 30's discourage this practice unless you are one of the lucky ones going to warm places for Spring Break).
Alaskans can be seen wearing only light jackets and long sleeve shirts as they declare it to be a warm day (highs in the 30's can be deceiving with the sun warming us again).
Cars are showing the tell tale signs of 'break up'. A thick coat of road slime that disguises the actual color of all vehicles except the one just pulling out of the car wash.


So here is to the powerful hope of Spring. We are so glad that it comes each year.